Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-08
ROMANCE OF 4 FIR PILLOW

! So the gossips at the i'V',o ao,,Id
,otel where we were boarding .
,ttan baa long talks together, TINS
yo1np Jack Turner and myself wnen
We happened to meet IN the p'''
out ON the piazzas. o,n,
The special craze among our young
adv boarders just then was the
making OF all sorts OF Pre..y
| pillows, which they filled with
line needles or buds OF the ma
rant balsam fir, and Embroidered
rith various appropriate notices
,ucb as DDream OF the woods ne
zines shall whisper peace, "ulVe me
4 yonr balm. 0 Fir-tree," etc, etc.
And as the picking Of these pune .,. nee
lies and pitehy iir-tips was a as.e =
,le work for dainty white myers ~
raa onite the fashion for all the chiv-
alric young men in the house 20 VOL
,nteer their services in this inltiatory
,art OF the work. Moreover, there
VAS not a little rivalry among tnehi
,s 10 who should find the most 'ra-
rant trees, a species OF the ou.sa'.
ir denominated strawberry being
rarest and most IN demand ;,
was therefore not at all surprised
sben this new acquaintance oil mine'
having found out my botanic proei'V-
Ties. came to me one bright morning
with nm immense tow bag slung across
ais shoulders, and announced nus III
,ention OF picking fir in some renote
woods ON the other side of the mount
am. Would 20 with him and show
,im the right kind OF treeY lie haa
,rourht back whole bagful Q, worth
ess stuff the day before, and all pe-
muse he couldn't tell a spruce tree
rom FIR.
How could | resist such a pathetic
,ppeal-especially when hec ,uld show
me in this particular piece OF woods a
ARE ard beautiful species OF orchid
hat | had long been trying to iindY
No / couldt refuse So Jack with
ala bag and | with my basket started
,ff in high spirits that glorious sum
ner morning. 1t was one OF those
are DAYS ia July when cool breath
rom the mountains tempered the
midsummer heat and gayeme an exhil
arating sense OF what Longfellow
.alls
the electric thrill, the touch
OF lie that seems almost too much.
The three miles walk around the
mountain seemed rs nothing, and we
,oon reached our destination, the
BROAD, dark belt OF woodland that
enclosed, ike velvet yirdlc, the pict-
aresaue little lake at the foot OF the
highest peak. Jack had proved him
self q most entertaining companion
all the way. He reminded me OF q
lear young nephew | had lost. and,
although week before we had been
total strangers. was glad to notice
that he seemed to regard me already
rs an old and tried friend. Upon one
subject, however, he WAS very fetlcent.
When had found Tor him a clump OF
The genuine strawberry" tree and
iokinsly asked him for which OF our
pretty young ladies no was going to
Dick the fir, he looked up quickly, and
then. with confused look on his
rank eountenance said,
"Oh, IL Is for no one here; 1t is Tor
some one miles and miles away. And
10 you think, he added, with an alb
stracted air quite foreign to his usual
manner, that it IS really q cure for
consumption"
Hardly n cure" | answered, "al'
though I've known it to give relief in
many cases OF confirmed lung trouble. y
the young man sighed heavily
"Well," he replied, after long silence,
81 am determined to try every thing
Tor her,
/ OF course, my sympathies were i'm.
mediately aroused. began at once
to picture to myself the pale young
sirl in her iar-oif home, fading away
day by day, like some frail, sweet
flower.
Has she been III long timer"
ventured at last to inquire,
For more than q year" he answer.
ed briefly, and then quickly turned
the conversation upon some other
subject. Still, | could not help no
tieine that heavy burden evidently
lay upon his mind, that, try rs hard
as lie might, he could not entirely
shake off.
Now, do not think am over sym
pathetic, or have more than the or
binary amount OF curiosity usually at
trIbuted to woman kind, but all tn,
way home | kept thinking OF Jack.
little sweetheart, $50 many mile.
away" and wished he would tell III,
something more about her.
IL was the evening OF that same day
remember, that he came TO mo il
the parlor, ana drawing me into {
quiet corner, said he wanted to asl
my advice upon a very importan
subject.
Did think it would be possible TO
him to make up the fir pillow all him
self? lie used to hem the sails OF hi.
toy boats when little shaver, an,
served a good apprenticeship in sewin
on buttons when a college boy, an,
thought he could still man lre a needl
pretty we'll ii | would only have tn
patience TO show him.
OF course. with n woman's incense
quenee, | Immediately offered to d,
the whole thing Tor him. But no! h
thanked me Just the same, hesaid. bu
would really pre- er to do it himself.
Now. IN spite OF my mature years,
stu have stored away in my nature
deal OF romance, and this fame
oil the young man touched
sympathetic cord. OF course
would give an added value to th
pretty gift II 1t was all his own work
and who could tell what psychologists
power, what wonderful mind cure
.niaht not be effected when the littl
invalid pressed TO her lips the mari
t.Hfl .Nt. l.. > 4